MILLHOUSE, Robert (1788 - 1839)
Frontispiece illustration from the above book - perhaps it shows the Millhouse Oak?
"Artisan poet of Nottingham & the Burns of Sherwood Forest"
By Jenny Campbell
Robert Millhouse was a poet and stocking loom weaver from Nottingham.
A collection of his work is contained in a book published in 1881 and compiled by John Potter Briscoe, the Public Librarian of Nottingham. Millhouse is described in the book as ‘The Artizan Poet of Nottingham, and the Burns of Sherwood Forest.(1) The volume entitled ‘The Sonnets and Songs of Robert Millhouse’ contains fifty five sonnets, including Stoical Apathy, Early Morning and To a debilitated and sickly son; and twelve songs including one of his best known pieces ‘Song of the Patriot’.
Robert Millhouse was born on 14 October 1788, the second of at least eight children, and was baptised on 6 November 1788 at St Mary’s Church, Nottingham.(2) His parents John Millhouse and Ann Burbage had married at St Mary’s on 29 March 1785.(3) John and Ann’s other children were John (1786); Ann (1791); Joseph (1796); William (1798); George (1800); Rebecca (1803) and Frederick (1805).(4)
Robert started working at the age of six and by ten was working at a stocking loom. He attended Sunday School where he learned to read and write and also acquired some arithmetic. However at the age of ten he was selected to sing in the choir of St Peter’s Church in Nottingham, which meant that he was no longer able to attend Sunday School and thus his education ended.(1)
His interest in poetry began about 1804 when he started to read poetry and works by Shakespeare, Milton, Pope and others. Along with his brothers, John and Frederick, he acquired a number of books and put together a small family library. He also enjoyed spending time outdoors and at every opportunity went walking in the local woodland. At the age of twenty two, Robert joined the Nottinghamshire Militia (later known as The Royal Sherwood Foresters) under Colonel Gilbert Cooper Gardiner and spent time with the regiment in Plymouth and Dublin. His first poem “Stanzas addressed to a swallow” was written while he was in Plymouth and he contributed several pieces to the Nottingham Review at this time.(5)
In 1814 he left the regiment and returned to Nottingham and work at the stocking loom. On 25 August 1818, he married Eliza Saxby at St Mary’s Church, Nottingham(6) with whom he had at least seven children: Eliza (1820); William (1823); Alfred (1824); Mary (1826); Frederick (1828); John (1830); William (1832).(7)
As his family grew he continued to write but the stress of combining this with work, providing for the family, ill health and poverty led him in 1822 to ask for financial assistance from the Royal Literary Fund. At the same time an appeal was made by a Dr. Booker, on his behalf, in the Gentlemen’s Magazine and copied in the Nottingham Journal. As a result of this and a new benefactor, Mr Thomas Wakefield, he was able to continue writing and in 1823, “Blossoms” was published containing twenty four sonnets. He followed this with “The Song of the Patriot” in 1826 with both sonnets and songs included and “Sherwood Forest and other poems” in 1827 with nine new sonnets.
Millhouse continued to struggle with ill health and poverty but in 1832, with the help of friends, he was able to leave the stocking loom and started work in the Savings Bank. “Destinies of Man”, thought to be the best of his works, was published the same year and was dedicated to his patron, Mr Thomas Wakefield. His wife, Eliza died around this time leaving him with five living children.(8)
In 1836, on 5 November, he married Marian Muir or Moore at St Stephen’s Church, Sneinton, Nottinghamshire(9) and had two more children, James 1836 and Ann 1838.(10) Robert continued with his walks in the countryside and on one occasion, caught in a thunderstorm, he sought shelter in the hollow of an old oak tree which later became known as the ‘Millhouse oak’.
In 1838 he took ill again while living in Walker Street, Sneinton. Literary and other friends helped him with medical treatment and money but he died on Saturday 13 April 1839 and was buried five days later in Nottingham General Cemetery. Some years later friends subscribed and provided a gravestone. An epitaph written by Dr Spencer T. Hall was inscribed on the stone.
“ In memory of Robert Millhouse, author of “The Destinies of Man”, “Sherwood Forest”, “The Song of the Patriot”; “Blossoms” and other Poems, who died at Nottingham April 13th, 1839, aged 50 years.”
“When Trent shall flow no more, and blossoms fall,
On Sherwood’s plains to scent the spring-tide gale,
When the lark’s lay shall lack it’s thrilling charm,
And song forget the patriot’s soul to warm;
For love o’er human hearts and last all sway;
His fame may pass – but not till then – away;
For Nature taught, and Freedom find, his rhyme;
And virtue dedicated it to time.” (11)
Sources
- Briscoe, John Potter (Ed.) (1881) The Sonnets and Songs of Robert Millhouse. Nottingham: Norris & Cockayne. p.v
- Baptism, parish records, England, St Mary, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire 1788/11/06. Nottinghamshire Baptisms. www.findmypast.co.uk – accessed 30 Apr 2015.
- Marriage, parish records, England, St Mary, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire 1785/03/1785. Nottinghamshire Marriages 1528-1929. www.findmypast.co.uk – accessed 30 Apr 2015.
- Baptisms, parish records, England, St Mary, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire; Millhouse 1786-1805; Nottinghamshire Baptisms; www.findmypast.co.uk – accessed 30 Apr 2015.
- Briscoe, John Potter (Ed.) (1881) The Sonnets and Songs of Robert Millhouse. Nottingham: Norris & Cockayne. p.vi
- Marriage, parish records, England, St Mary, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire 1818/08/25; Nottinghamshire Marriages 1528-1929. www.findmypast.co.uk – accessed 30 Apr 2015.
- Baptisms, parish records, England, St Mary, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire 1820-1832; Nottinghamshire Baptisms, www.findmypast.co.uk – accessed 30 Apr 2015.
- Briscoe, John Potter (Ed.) (1881) The Sonnets and Songs of Robert Millhouse. Nottingham: Norris & Cockayne. p.vii – p.viii
- Marriage, parish records, England, St Stephen, Sneinton, Nottinghamshire, 1836/11/05. Nottinghamshire Marriages 1528-1929. www.findmypast.co.uk – accessed 30 Apr 2015
- Baptisms, parish records, England, St Stephen, Sneinton, Nottinghamshire -1836 – 1838. Nottinghamshire Baptisms, www.findmypast.co.uk – accessed 30 Apr 2015.
- Briscoe, John Potter (Ed.) (1881) The Sonnets and Songs of Robert Millhouse. Nottingham: Norris & Cockayne. p.ix – p.x